THE STANDARD (Warrnambool, Australia) 03 November 08 Snakes bite three; Shock at pre-summer strikes (Jared Lynch)

Medical officers issued stern warnings yesterday after tiger snake bites put three south-west residents in hospital.

A well-known Portland man was the first victim. A snake is believed to have bitten the man on his upper torso on Friday.

A Portland District Health spokeswoman confirmed the man was initially treated at the local hospital before being transferred to South West Healthcare (SWH) Warrnambool.

"He needed intensive care," she said.

Yesterday afternoon the man's condition was stable. SWH clinical co-ordinator Melissa Coffey said he was able to be transferred to a general ward.

Hours after the Portland attack a 14-year-old Cobden girl and an Allansford man were also in hospital -- both suffering tiger snake bites.

Tiger snake venom can be fatal, causing cerebral hemorrhages.

But Ms Coffey said both patients were lucky and the girl was discharged soon after arriving at the hospital's emergency department.

The other victim was still in hospital yesterday in a stable condition. It is believed the snake bit him on the ankle while he was working in an Allansford garden.

The man's partner said he presented no symptoms but he drove himself to the hospital as a precaution.

Ms Coffey stressed snake bite victims should stay still when they are bitten and definitely not drive a car.

"The best thing to do is to just stop and immediately call an ambulance," she said. "It is important to stay calm."

The weekend attacks came two weeks after a Hawkesdale woman was rushed to hospital after being bitten at the Hamilton races.

Megan McDonough, 26, was parading in the fashions on the field when a tiger snake "grabbed on" to her ankle. She spent several days in intensive care.

Ambulance Victoria spokesman John Mullen said snakes were clearly at large earlier than normal.

"Certainly for south-west Victoria this is the earliest I have heard of them being out and about," he said.
Snakes bite three; Shock at pre-summer strikes

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• AUS Press: Snakes bite three - W von Papineäu, Mon Nov 17 21:17:38 2008